President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday inaugurated a seven-member board of the Right to Information Commission (RTI Commission), with the mandate to resolve complaints through negotiation, conciliation, mediation, or arbitration.
Among the Commission’s mandate, include, to dismiss an application to access information if it considers the application to be frivolous and also to issue specific direction in matters concerning confidential information, minors and other circumstances which the commission considers appropriate.
The members of the RTI Commission include Justice K. A. Ofori-Atta, Chairperson; Mrs. Elizabeth Asare, Deputy Chairperson; Mr Yaw Sarpong Boateng, Executive Secretary; Mrs Victoria D. E. Susuawu, Member; Dr. Edith Dankwa, Member; Nana Kwame Aduah, Member and Mr David Oppon-Kusi, Member.
President Akufo-Addo said as an independent body established to safeguard the constitutional right to information, “your work must be guided at all times by respect for the rule of law, adherence to the freedom of expression and unequivocal attachment to Justice.”
The law, the President indicated, also requires “you as board members to ensure the proper functioning of the commission. The diversity in the composition of this board must come to bear on the decisions of the Commission in resolving complaints and other matters that may come to it.
“You’ve been identified as persons of truth and integrity and as persons who are familiar with the considerations of the law and I’m confident that you will discharge your duties efficiently and effectively,” the President said.
President Akufo-Addo said steps taken so far by the government towards the realisation of the RTI Law, demonstrated the determination of “my Administration to adhere to the principles of accountable government, entrench democracy and vigorously fight corruption.”
He assured the commission that the government is committed to providing it with the requisite resources needed for its full operation.
The RTI bill, which was first drafted by the IEA, began in 1999 and has undergone several revisions with successive governments.
On May 21, 2019, President Akufo-Addo gave assent to its enactment with the law becoming operation on 2nd January 2020. Since then the Ministry of Information has been working to ensure its smooth implementation.
Information officers have been recruited, trained and deployed to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to provide information to people according to the dictates of the law.
Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD
